I always go for the mount
ive practice the mount position for years, but side mount works better for me.
going for the mount is a key instinct instilled through training jiu-jitsu. i always want the mount, but what i really want is the guy's back.
but, in terms of gi training, i have always preferred side control, in terms of attacking for submissions. if i can move my legs and maintain control, i have more options.
I never liked nor respected the mount. Having wrestled in HS and dabbled in judo, side control just seemed more solid to me, and consequently I used it more and developped my game more from side (kesa and 100kilos, mainly) than mount.
Never really worried about getting subbed from mount either, gi or no gi I managed to defend, bump, wriggle and reverse. Mount for me was for MMA fighters who had the option of laying down a flurry of punches for the ref stoppage.
That all changed for me this summer when I went to Rio and trained at BTT. These guys work mount solidly and it shows. Tight and fluid, they either crazyglue you to the mat and themselves to you, or give you enough room to roll a bit to worsen your position. In either event, once they get on top of you, you're in deep.
Now I have respect for the mount. What I don't have respect for is MY mount, which I think puts me in the same boat as a lot of you. Back to the drawing board.
Cheers!
joe
I always go for it just like old school bjj, I feel it is good for me cos over the years I have got good at keeping it. I think it is good to stay with the traditional hirachy of positions.
At 5'11" 155 lbs, I often have trouble maintaining the mount (for me, I find side control a more stable place to work from).
But let's face it - the mount is so much fun! When you have mount on someone, there's absolutely no doubt that you're beating them. Psychologically, I find that to be a rush - it reminds me of all of the friendly wrestling matches I used to have way back in grade school :-)